Structural evolution and fluvio-deltaic sedimentary architecture in salt-influenced rift-basins - examples from the Snadd Formation in the Nordkapp and Tiddlybanken basins
Abstract
The Nordkapp and Tiddlybanken basins are examples of salt sedimentary basins with thick successions of Triassic-Middle Jurassic fluvio-deltaic basin infill in the Barents Sea. The Middle to Upper Triassic Snadd Formation represent two regressive-transgressive fluvio-deltaic mega-sequences systems extending across the entire Barents Sea. These large fluvio-deltaic systems were generated as a result of the exposure of the Ural Mountains and Fennoscandia.
The Nordkapp and Tiddlybanken basins formed during Devonian to Carboniferous, with salt deposited in a shallow evaporitic basin during the Late Carboniferous and Early Permian under the influence of regional extension. Salt growth was initiated in Early-Middle Triassic in the Nordkapp Basin and Middle Triassic in the Tiddlybanken Basin. Several salt mini-basins were formed due to diachronous salt growth in response to differential loading in the Early to Middle Triassic, because of the initial progradation of fluvio-deltaic systems. The fluvial stratigraphic architecture and style in the mini-basins is controlled by the interplay between subsidence rate (and subsequent accommodation creation) and sediment delivery rate.
The regressive and transgressive mega-sequences represent two forestepping to backstepping fluvio-deltaic clastic wedges in the Snadd Formation. Depositional environments range from upper delta plain to marine environments, but are mostly occupied by flood- and delta plain environments with various types of fluvial channel systems.
The salt diapirism interaction with the fluvio-deltaic systems has generated rim-synclines along the salt walls with large fluvial systems captured by the rim-synclines, resulting in fill-spill infill pattern of the salt mini-basins. In the lower progradational and retrogradational units the dominant fluvial character is meandering to anastomosing, with underfilled conditions in the salt mini-basins. The middle part is a succession with balanced to overfilled basin conditions with vertically stacked channel fills with broad meandering to braided systems/channel complexes. The upper part is dominantly balanced to underfilled, with meandering and anastomosing fluvial styles. A lacustrine environment is also identified within this package. With a greater net-to-gross and channel proportion in the middle part, this is expected to have a good to excellent reservoir quality potential. The dominantly fine-grained under and overlaying parts, seal potential stratigraphic traps such as fluvial channels in the mini-basin and/or updip along a structure. Organic-rich deposits are expected within the lacustrine environment, which have the opportunity to act as a potential source rock for the embedded channels or overlaying Jurassic strata.
Description
Master's thesis in Petroleum geosciences engineering
Publisher
University of Stavanger, NorwayRelated items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
The Impact of Salt Tectonics on the Thermal Evolution and the Petroleum System of Confined Rift Basins: Insights from Basin Modeling of the Nordkapp Basin, Norwegian Barents Sea
Cedeno Motta, Andres Felipe; Rojo Moraleda, Luis Alberto; Cardozo Diaz, Nestor Fernando; Centeno, Luis; Escalona Varela, Alejandro (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2019-07)Although the thermal effect of large salt tongues and allochthonous salt sheets in passive margins is described in the literature, little is known about the thermal effect of salt structures in confined rift basins where ... -
Structural evolution of sheared margin basins: the role of strain partitioning. Sørvestsnaget Basin, Norwegian Barents Sea
Kristensen, Thomas Berg; Rotevatn, Atle; Marvik, Maria; Henstra, Gijs Allard; Gawthorpe, Robert; Ravnås, Rodmar (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2017-07)Spatio-temporal analysis of basins formed along sheared margins has received much less attention than those formed along orthogonally extended margins. Knowledge about the structural evolution of such basins is important ... -
Geochemical analysis of oils from Barbados and basin modeling of Paleozoic units in the southern Llanos basin, Colombia
Cedeno Motta, Andres Felipe (Masteroppgave/UIS-TN-IPT/2017;, Master thesis, 2017-07-16)This study evaluates two separate areas using different approaches that help improve knowledge regarding their hydrocarbon potential: 1 - A frontier region lying between the junction of the Barbados accretionary prism and ...